After four games and four defeats, and with a wooden spoon showdown with Italy
looming, Scotland coach Andy Robinson has finally found the formula for Six
Nations success: Who Dares Wins.

The motto of the Special Air Service has become the mantra of the Scotland team over the past few days as former SAS soldier Floyd Woodrow has been brought into the Scottish camp – possibly by parachute, almost certainly under cover of darkness – to inspire and motivate the team ahead of a match that offers the Scots their last remaining hope of a win in this year’s championship.

Woodrow, one of the youngest soldiers ever chosen to serve in the elite regiment and a holder of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, is now a motivational speaker and coach and has worked with the Welsh Rugby Union, the England and Wales Cricket Board academy and a number of other organisations. Robinson was vague on his precise remit with Scotland, but replacement scrum-half Chris Cusiter believes his input has been valuable.

“He’s obviously experienced at what he does in trying to get the best out of teams,” said Cusiter. “He watched us in training and made a few comments. It’s just a few key indicators, things like getting energy and enthusiasm up and having the right people saying the right things at the right time.

“He’s an interesting guy and you have to be open to all sorts of different opinions and voices. He’s from a completely different background, but what he talks about is very applicable to rugby. We’ve been together for many weeks now and we’ve listened a lot to the coaches, so it’s nice to get a different voice.”

While Woodrow has presumably focused on the Scotland players’ psychological approach to the game in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, one or two players might have been tempted to pick his brains on the finer points of unarmed combat ahead of a match which is expected to be a ferocious physical contest.

Unsurprisingly, Robinson has chosen the same pack he called up for the past two games – against France and Ireland – despite the fact Scotland lost both those contests.

Behind the scrum, the only change since the 32-14 loss in Dublin last weekend sees Nick De Luca brought back into the team after Lee Jones was ruled out by the head knock he suffered in that game.

De Luca had originally been selected to play Ireland, but the centre was carrying a hamstring injury and he failed to survive the warm-up, with Max Evans taking his berth. Evans retain his place in the side, albeit now moved to Jones’s slot on the wing.

“I have kept the scrum together because I want the continuity of the eight as they will be severely tested by the Italian pack,” said Robinson of his strategy. “You review the individual and team performances. There had been a lot of steps forward before that [Ireland] game and it is about rewarding those players in this final game.

Robinson has refused to deal with questions concerning his own future that have been raised by a Six Nations record in which Scotland have won just two of their 14 matches with him in charge.

Robinson said: “It is not what I am here for and it has been a huge disappointment. But I have got to get on with it and prepare a side to take on Italy. I have got to channel those feelings just like the team, to get a performance and a result.

“But I am enjoying working with this squad of players. Yes, there are challenges, but the passion and desire the players show is what fuels me.”

Italy, who have won four of their six Six Nations clashes with Scotland in Rome, have been bolstered by the early return from injury of Martin Castrogiovanni.

The Leicester giant damaged a rib against England last month and had been expected to miss the rest of the championship, but he will now take his place in a powerful Italian front row alongside Leonardo Ghiraldini and Andrea Lo Cicero.

Italy coach Jacques Brunel has made a total of six changes to the side which lost to Wales in Cardiff last weekend, the adjustments including a recall to the starting lineup for Marco Bortolami, the former Gloucester lock, who will be winning his 93rd cap.